WIBU to reassure this child that my dog is friendly

We need more of them, yes. My local park has a dog area that is vey popular. You don't have to book it. My mum lets her ex-racer greyhound have some off lead zoomies in there. Is lovely to watch.

However, on MN, you will have people take their kids in there and set up a picnic... and then complain about the dogs there.

also.... UK need to install dog parks that are gated and fenced up.

You were being nice but she has a point. I am also super cautious with dogs as we have had tiny mutts nearly attack my baby and toddler on several occasions and the owners play it off as nothing " oh just loves seeing kids". No if that dog comes anywhere near my kids it won't be breathing for much longer! Inhave had to get a small 4.5cm flip knife as I am so scared of these dogs hurting me and more importantly my small children. We came face to face with a brown XL bully and it was a narrow lane. I had that knife on my pocket clutching it so tight as the dog had already arched back into its hind legs and looked anxious and glittery. I was ready for the attack if it came. I can not take my children anywhere without thwir being 20million dogs! Evenn places that say NO DOGS. A national Try at says no dogs and is aolurrounded by farm land sheep and horses and dear and their are those taking their dogs.! Makes no sense. There are no safe spaces anymore.

That child is very valid for having that reaction, and mother to, to want to be aa far away as possible you don't know whats happens to her and the mother feels the anxiety to.

I would read the room, and keep the distance and walk by super quickly with dogs under a tight leash.

@Allelbowsandtoes you have nothing to feel bad about and did the right thing. I also have a whippet and have also spent a lot of time training a good recall and he's also very uninterested in other people even when they're interested in him. I also always put him back on the lead as soon as I see anyone in the distance because I realise some people are scared of dogs. If they do ask any questions I usually just say he's very gentle.

I think people are taking out their dog frustrations on you without having read your post at all. There are a lot of irresponsible dog owners around who give the good ones a bad name.

You’re right, dogs aren’t children. But that doesn’t make them pointless. They provide companionship, support, and structure for millions of people, especially those who are childfree, elderly, suffering from PTSD, autistic, etc The list goes on.

Society isn’t just about raising kids; it’s about coexisting respectfully. Good dog owners manage their pets like good parents supervise their kids. Public space isn’t only for one type of person or family.

Dogs aren’t a right, but neither are kids in every context. It’s about mutual respect, not hierarchy.

You behaved correctly but the mum was rude.

Dog owners have rights though. They have the right to take their dog to places that dogs are allowed.

eye roll for the morons

Laws exist for the treatment of dogs. Mental stimulation and exercise are part of that. They do have the right to these things, and owners are legally bound to provide them.

You don’t have to like dogs, but they do have the legal right to be in public spaces.

Thank you - I felt too weary for this 🤣

I always say as I pass small people with my huge dog "Ned is a very gentle dog"

This is to reassure everyone.

A dog has no rights. It isn't a person.

This means that the mother and child would have been completely on the right side of the law in anything they did to get that dog away. The law doesn't ask what the dog did to cause fear, it asks if the person perceived danger.

Err, no. Even if the danger is assessed on a subjective basis (just as it is for assaults against the person), the reaction to the perceived danger still needs to be objectively reasonable. Funnily enough the law doesn't say that people get to do whatever they want just because they're scared...

A dog has a right to be a dog also.

I have no skin in this personally, but there’s just as much entitlement in dog dislikers as there is in dog owners.

Why should I restrict where I go with my dog? The woman can also just walk around her garden in peace if that’s what she wants. I pay taxes to enjoy public land with my dog. The woman without consideration walked into the space I was enjoying and I found that harassing.

If we apply your logic (I say that loosely). I’m childfree. So, because I can, I should be able to go sit in a public playground that my taxes go towards without children coming anywhere near me and in fact the kids and parents should move out of my way, as their kids are not my lifestyle choice.

Any other dumb comments… keep to yourself and save yourself the embarrassment.

You’re obtusely comparing the two again. In this case we are comparing the right to BE a child and exist in the world with owning a dog. It’s not a case of parents v dog owners vs the right a person has to a space over and above someone’s pet. The fact that the person is a small one is irrelevant.

in this instance it was perfectly obvious you are a responsible owner with a well trained dog.

True, but the trouble is, irresponsible owners say this too. It's not nice for a 3yo to have a huge retriever bounding up towards them and it's frustrating as a parent when the owner looks on indulgently and says "he's friendly" rather than recalling.

Would you [DC] now like to approach to say hello?

Sorry but this is the worst thing you could say to a scared child. They will probably grow out of their fear naturally as they get bigger but if they're scared then however lovely Fido is, there isn't going to be a sudden magical moment where the scared child realizes it's all ok and that it's all down to your wonderful dog.

Just reassure the parent that the dog is on a lead and move swiftly on. The child's fear isn't a statement or judgement about you or your dog.

I think you did all you could. She was on her lead, walking beside you, not interested in the child. You were trying to reassure the child and her mother. There was no need for her to snap at you. No doubt mother and child think all dogs are terrifying. With responsible owners they aren’t and in this instance it was perfectly obvious you are a responsible owner with a well trained dog.

Excellent, we agree!

Children are also a privilege, not a right, and they (or any other person!) don’t have the right to interfere with the comfort of any other person.

Including responsible dog walkers, as OP was.

Because fears are not anyone else’s responsibility but your own.

No. A dog minding its own business is not dangerous or out of control. The dangerous dog act wont apply as the dog was not dangerous.

Because OP they don’t know your dog.

I am so sick and tired or people saying their dog is friendly, off lead and expecting everyone to be okay with this. I am a dog owner and I am so sick of people saying this. I don’t want other dogs jumping on me, coming at me, baring their teeth at my dog, getting tangled with my dog (always on lead) and the owner thinking as their dog is friendly it’s perfectly fine.

You didn't do anything wrong and handled it perfectly. I think this comment was for other owners and dogs.

Perhaps if there is another similar time, you could say I've put the dog on the lead immediately. Would you [DC] now like to approach to say hello? Well done for not just approaching a dog without permission. That allows you to demonstrate you are a responsible owner, but reflects their interest.

For gods sake this tiresome argument again. A dog is not the same as a child. A child is a person who has a right and need to be part of society and learn how to participate and BE a person. We need children to continue society. Dogs are unnecessary pets unless you happen to be blind or own a farm. As such, people need to remember that having them anything other than at home, or on a lead is a privilege, not a right and they do not get to interfere with the comfort of any person

Oh don't be ridiculous. People can throw balls for their dog in a public park fgs. Is it really that hard to show some awareness of one's surroundings? And one incident of a dog running up thinking it's about to have a ball thrown for it is hardly "endless hassling"

I think you're missing the point actually. "Out of control" doesn't mean running around causing mayhem. OP didn't immediately call her dog back, she waited until it was apparent that the child was scared. In that situation the dangerous dog act is on the side of the mother and child, despite the dog not doing anything dangerous there was a perception of threat. This means that the mother and child would have been completely on the right side of the law in anything they did to get that dog away. The law doesn't ask what the dog did to cause fear, it asks if the person perceived danger.

Unfortunately there are a lot of idiot dog owners who do nothing to learn the laws around dog ownership and control.

If the dog is properly trained it can be recalled whenever there are people around and ther is no issue. If that is a problem then the owner needs to find somewhere else to walk or hire a dog field.

Scooters aren't legal on public roads, i agree that they cause a hazard.

If you feel that there should be similar legislation to the dangerous dog act for children I suppose you will have to start a petition and write to your MP. It changes nothing about the responsibilities of dog owners and rights of the general public to not feel in danger.